Customer: ESA/ESTEC (2007 – ongoing) |
 | This study addresses the development of a new type of RF invisible strut for dual gridded reflectors. |
Contracted by ESTEC, this study is currently conducted with subcontractors from Canada (MDA) and France (Astrium). The development is mainly split into two parts: On the one hand the RF development and on the other the structural development. Within the RF development a so called meta-material stack is developed guiding the incidence RF waves around the post. For the structural development a strut design has to be elaborated carrying the meta-material stack but also fulfilling the thermo-mechanical requirements relevant for the performance of the dual gridded reflector. Thereby, special care has to be taken regarding requirements such as weight, thermo-elastic behaviour, mechanical capabilities, mechanical integration to the dual gridded reflector, space compliant materials and especially structural integrity of the meta-material stack under space environment (CTE mismatch, cryogenic as well as high temperature capability, adhesion).
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